Bowling game having angularly retractable simulated pins



March 2, 1965 M. l. GLASS ETAL 3,171,655

BOWLING GAME HAVING ANGULARLY RETRACTABLE SIMULATED PINS Filed Jan. 4,1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 2, 1965 M. l- GLASS ETAL 3,171,655

BOWLING GAME HAVING ANGULARLY RETRACTABLE SIMULATED PINS Filed Jan. 4,1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 #5 n9 "4/ 6/ 4? 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. I. GLASS ETALMA/PV/N A 64/45.;

GZ/AMADS 4/0775 M aw 9m BOWLING GAME HAVING ANGULARLY RETRACTABLESIMULATED PINS 4, 1962 March 2, 1965 Filed Jan.

United States Patent 3,171,555 BOWLING GAME HAVING ANGULARLY RETRACTABLESIMULATED PINS;

Marvin I. Glass, Chicago, and Gunars Licitis, Lombard, 11]., assignorsto Marvin Glass & Associates, (Ihicago, IlL, a partnership Filed Jan. 4,1962, Ser. No. 164,258 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-41) The invention relatesgenerally to toy bowling games and more particularly, to toy bowlinggames which are coin controlled and/or which incorporate realisticbowling pin action.

Various toy bowling games of the past have been coin controlled toregulate the number of balls available for rolling down an alley towarda set of bowling pins. However, during bowling, the number of ballsrolled toward the pins will vary from game to game. For instance, in aperfect game in which a score of 300 is achieved, the ball is rolled atthe pins only 12 times. On the other hand, it is possible to roll as fewas 11 or as many as 21 balls down the alley toward the pins in a singlegame. Moreover, the number of balls rolled will vary from frame toframe.

However, there is much less variation in the number of times the bowlingpins must be reset for a complete bowling game. As is well known, thebowling pins must generally be reset for each of the ten frames and, ifthe play in the tenth frame is a spare or strike, the player may beentitled to one or two additional settings of the bowling pins.Accordingly, the normal minimum number of times the pins are reset isand the maximum number is 12. It is therefore more practical to controlthe number of pin resettings in a toy bowling game than to control thenumber of balls available for use by the player.

A further main object of the invention is to provide a toy bowling gameincluding an arrangement by which the pins are realisticallydisplaceable in the direction in which struck. Still another main objectof the invention is the provision of a toy bowling game incorporating arelatively simple, mechanical arrangement for resetting such pins ashave been struck and displaced from their normal upright positions. Afurther main object of the invention is the provision of a coincontrolled bowling game incorporating realistic pin movement in responseto striking of the bowling pins, together with a relatively simple,manually operable means for simultaneously resetting all of thedisplaced pins to their normal upright standing positions. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide means for propelling the ball ofthe bowling game always at the same speed. Still an other object of theinvention is to provide a ball projecting mechanism for projecting theball at a predetermined velocity by manipulation of a single controlelement.

In general, the principal object of the invention is the provision of animproved toy bowling game.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following description and accompanying drawings of oneembodiment of the invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken away view of a toy bowling gameincorporating various of the features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged and partially broken away prospective view ofvarious of the internal components of the toy shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, sectional fragmentary view taken transverselyof the game shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view, partiallyin section,

of the arrangement for supporting the bowling pins and of a portion ofthe arrangement for resetting the bowling pins;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing one of the bowling pinsin a retracted position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURES 4 and 5 iliustrating thedisposition of one of the pins at the end of the resetting operation;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of a portion of themember which engages and etfects resetting of the bowling pins;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of the mechanism forpropelling a ball down the alley toward the bowling pins in the gameshown in FIGURE 1, with the ball propelling mechanism shown in its armedposition;

FIGURE 9 is a view of the ball propelling mechanism of FIGURE 8, shownin its triggered condition;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical view of the ball propelling mechanism of FIGURES8 and 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view, partially in section and partially schematic,showing the frame counting and lamp operating mechanism of the apparatusof FIGURES 1, 2 and 3;

FIGURE 12 is a side view, partially in section, of part of the framecounting mechanism shown in FIG- URE 11; and

FIGURE 13 is a view, partially in section, of the lamp structure of theapparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

The bowling game shown in the drawings comprises a support means orhousing 21 (FIGURE 1), a portion of which defines an alley 23, and aseries of simulated bowling pins 25 which are carried by the housing 21for pivotal movement relative thereto from generally upright standingpositions on the alley 23 to pivotally elevated, retracted positions.Also included in the disclosed bowling game are means 27 carried by thehousing 21 for projecting a ball 2h up the alley 23 toward the pins 25so as to strike and consequently displace one or more of the pins 25 topivotally elevated, retracted positions, and manually operable, coincontrolled means or mechanism 31 for resetting the pins 25 in theirstanding positions on the alley 23.

Considering the construction in greater detail, the housing 21 can befabricated of plastic or other suitable material to provide the alley 23which generally resembles the appearance of a commercial bowling alley.The alley 23 is slightly upwardly inclined in the rearward direction,i.e., in the direction toward the pins 25, and is bordered, on eachside, by gutters 33 which are connected at a point at the rearward endof the alley 23 and which slope downwardly toward the forward end of thealloy to provide for gravity return of the ball 2?.

At its rearward end, the housing 2.1 includes a covered portion 34 inwhich the coin con-trolled pin resetting mechanism 31 is housed.

At the forward end of the alley 23, the housing 21 includes an innergenerally upright wall 35 which is arouately .or otherwise shaped toprovide a normal resting place for the ball 29 in position to be struckby the ball projecting mechanism 27.

The :ball projecting mechanism 27, as seen best in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10,includes a plunger 37 firmly connected to a plunger rod 370. slidablymounted in a pair of upstanding legs 38, 38a projecting from a bracket39. Plunger 37 is mounted in aperture 36 of leg 38 and plunger rod 37ais mounted in aperture 36a of leg 38a. At its rearward end the bracket39 is supported by a portion 21a of the housing 21 and is pivotallyconnected thereto by pin 40 for horizontal swinging movement about avertical axis as to permit angular variation in the direction in whichthe ball 29 is directed toward the .42 is .horizontally elongated v toaccommodate pivotal movement of the ball projecting mechanism 27. At itsforward end the sleeve 41 terminates in a knob 44.

Sleeve 41 is slidably mounted on plunger rod 37a for axial movementtherealong. ,I-Ielical spring 45 .is disposed about plunger rod 37abetween leg 38aand bearing plate 37b which is disposedbetween plunger 37and plunger rod 37a. The spring 45 is retained in place by retainingmember 3812 which is attached to leg 38a. When the plunger 37 isreleased, the helical spring 45 pushes the plunger 37 rearward to strikethe ball. 29.

Travel of -the plunger 37 is limited by bearing plate 37b, being stoppedwhen the latter strikes the leg 35. When the plunger is retracted, itsmotion is stopped when spring 45 is fully compressed. To retract theplunger, the player pulls knob 44 forward. Projections 41a on sleeve 41engage a shoulder 46 onplunger rod 370:, (FIGURE so that forwardmovement of knob 44 retracts plunger 37 against the force of spring 45.Attached to plunger rod 37a within the sleeve 41 is a detent 47 having aforward bearing surface 47a. As the plunger mesa; is reerected thebeveled nature of bearing surface 47a causes the detent 47 to ride upand over a stop 43. However, as the knob 44 is moved rearwar'dly, detent4'7 catches in a notch 48a. Detent 47 is urged downwardly into notch 48aby a spring 49 which is fastened' to the plunger rod 37a between theplunger rod and the sleeve 41. The plunger rod 37a is thereby latched tostop 43. As the knob 44 is moved further in a rearward direction thesleeve 41 slides freely over .the plunger rod 37a and plunger 37 remainsin its armed position with the spring 45 compressed until a cam surface56 of sleeve 41 engages the bearing -surface 47a, whereupon detent 47 iscammed upwardly and out of notch 48a, thereupon'releasing plunger rod37a; 7 Spring 45 is thereupon free to'move plunger 37 rearwardly tostrike the ball 23;

. The ball propelling mechanismof this invention has a number ofadvantages. It permits the use of a single control knob to orient theball propelling mechanism, to arm the ball propelling mechanisrrh'and'torelease the ball propelilng mechanism,. each with a separate positivemotion of the control knob. Prior mechanisms operated by release of aknobwhereas in the described invention the knob must be,.positivelypushed forward to release the plunger rod. .Where theknob 'is merelyreleased to operate the plunger, all control is lost and, in particular,the orientation of the ballpropelling device is no longer controlled. Inthedescribed apparatus, the operator maintains the alignmentof theballpropelling mechanism byfirmly grasping the knob 44. and moving the :knobonly in the direction in .which: it is desired to 'propel the ball. Afurther advantage of the .described apparatus is that it releases theplunger each time withthe same force, inasmuch asv the detent 47 latchesin notch 43a at the same place, thus lproviding the same compression-ofthe spring 45 each time. When the-'detent 47 is latched in notch 48athereis lost motion between the sleeve 41 and the plungerrod 37a, forprefect-ions 41a Ito-longer engage shoulder. 46. This lost motion issufiicient that when cam surface 50 releases the detent 47, the plunger37 may move its entire stroke until-bearing plate 37 strikes leg 38. Atthis point the shoulder 46 hasinot yet reached projections. 41a. Thusthe same compression of the spring releasesthe same energy to theplunger each time, so that the ball is-propelled each time with theproper force. This makes it possible for even very young childrentooperate the device, since it avoids having to gauge direction and. forceat the same time. It also makes it certain that the ball always moves atthe same, proper speed.

The bowling pins 25, in the disclosed construction, each include a mainpart 52 generally having the appearance of a commercial bowling pin, areten in number, and are arranged in the usual triangular formation. Ofcourse, a single pin can be employed and other shapes and formations canbe utilized.

More particularly, each of the disclosed bowling pins 25 includes, ingenerally upwardly projecting relation to the main part 52 thereof, ared or element 51 by means of which the bowling ,pins are supported.Each r'odSl inveludes, adjacent to but spaced from its upper end, asseen best in FIGURES 4,5 and 6, an enlarged portion 53 which, in thedisclosed construction, is of spherical formation, and has a downwardlyconvex bearing surface 55. Projecting above each of the enlargedportions 53 is an extension 57. l

Each bowling pin 25 is supported for pivotal movement relative to anupright standing position on the alley 23 by means which, inthedisclosed construction, takes the form of a supporting plate or sheetmetal stamping 5% suitably mounted in generally overlying relation tothe rearward end of the alley 23 by brackets 61 extending from thecovered portion 34 of the housing 21. The supporting plate 59 includes,in the usual triangular formation, a series of seats or pockets 63 (seeFIGURES 4, 5 and 6), each of which supports the enlarged portion 53 ofone of the bowling pins 25. h V

, Eachseat63 is generally of hemispherical form,'having aradiuscorresponding to the radius of the associated enlarged bearingportion 53 of the bowling 'pin element 51. Each of'the seats63 is cutaway, as indicated at 64 in FIGURES 4, Sand 6, to permit rearwardpivotal movement of the associated bowling pins 25 through a verticalarc. More particularly, the cutaway portion of eachseat 63 is defined bya vertical'plane extending trans vensely of the length of the alleyforward of the center of the radius of curvature of seat 63 by theradiusof rod 51, and by a horizontal plane extending generally through thecenter of the radius of curvature. As a'result, when any one of thebowling pins '25 is struck, either by the ball 29 or by another one ofthe pins 25, the struck pin is free to pivot through a vertical arc ofabout 55 degrees to various pivotally elevated, retracted positions. Thevertical motion is limited by the backof the housing 21 The vertical arccan occuranywhere within a'r'earwardly disposed horizontal are which mayextend about degrees to'ei'ther side of the longitudinal direction ofthe alley 23. Accordingly, a very realistic pin action is ain l Thebowling pins 25 are each maintained in normal standing position on thealley 23 and, 'when displaced from'normal standing positions as'a resultof being struck, are each urged toward pivotally elevated, retractedpositions, by means which, in the disclosed construction, takes 'theform of a series of fiat leaf springs 67 engaging the upper end of eachof the extensions 57. More particularly, for ease in assembling'thedisclosed game, it is preferred to form or stamp each of the leafsprings 67 as a part of a single piece or plate69 of spring material. Asshown in FIGURES 2, 4, 5 and '6, each leaf spring 673s bent out'of theplane of the spring plate 69. Adjacent its free end, each of the leafsprings 67 includes a groove 71 for receiving the projecting extension57 of the associated bowling pin element 51,'thereb y tensioning theleaf spring 69 and maintaining the associated bowling pin 25 in agenerally vertical standing position, as seen best in FIGURES 4, v5 and6. However, when any one of the pins 25 is struck, the resultingpivotalaction disengages. the associated extension 57 from the engaged groove71,. as shown in FIGURE 5. This action results in an addidltionaltensioning of the associated leaf spring 67, and consequently serves toeffect pivotal elevation of the: struck pin toa retracted position. (SeeFIGURE 5.) The springs 67 are essentially fiat springs. They. pushdownwardly on respective extensions 57. Thus, whichever direction theextensions are initially moved, springs 67 move them further in the samedirection. Since the bowling pins rotate with the respective extensions,when any pin 25 is moved by the bowling ball 29 or another pin 25, theaction of a respective spring 67 urges the pin in the same direction itwas moved and moves it up and out of the way. The springs 67 aredisposed relative to the respective extensions 57 so that the force of aspring against a respective extension is in the direction of the centerof rotation of the respective ball and socket joint when the respectivepin is in its standing position. In such a case, the spring produces notorque, since the moment arm is zero. On the other hand, once the pin isdisplaced, a moment arm is created and the spring acts to elevate therespective pin. Since the springs are fiat, they have no preferentialdirection and the pins are moved realistically in the direction they arefirst moved. The length of rods 51 is such that in rotation aboutenlargements 53, the pins may strike other pins, causing them to fall.

After one or more of the pins 25 has been struck and is, accordingly,pivotally elevated to a retracted position, the pin or pins arereturnable to their normal standing position on the alley 23 by meansincluding a forwardly and rearwardly shiftable member or slide 75. Moreparticularly, the shiftable member 75, as shown in FIGURE 2, issupported in underlying engaging relation to the supporting plate 59 by,and is guided for movement by, pivotal connection by pin 76 at itsforward end to a middle portion of an actuating arm '77, and slidablyconnected at its rearward end by a pair of transversely spacedconnectors 79 (only one shown) which are forwardly and rearwardlyshiftable in cooperating slots 81 formed in the member 75. In order torigidity the shiftable member 75 and to limit the engaged bearingsurface between the shiftable member 75 and the supporting plate 59,there are provided about the periphery of the shiftable member 75 aseries of ribs 83 which have an arcuate transverse cross section andwhich engage the under surface of the supporting plate 59.

The operation of the pin-setting mechanism is understood best byreference to FIGURES S and 6. In FIG- URE 5, the pin 25 is shown in itsretracted position.

The pins 25 are returned to their normal standing positions on the alley23 during forward movement of the shiftable member '75. In this regard,the shiftable member 75 incorporates ten openings or camming slots 85through which the elements 51 project. The camrning slots 85, as seenbest in FIGURE 7, are generally of V-shaped form having a pair ofconverging sides 86 and a rearwardly located vertex 37. When theshiftable member 75 is in its rearwardmost position, the V-shape of thecamming slots 85 permits unhindered pivotal movement of the associatedpins 25 to pivotally elevated, retracted positions. When the shiftablemember 75 is moved forwardly, the converging sides 86 of the V-shapedcamming slots 85' engage and guide the associated element 51 toward thevertex 87. When the member reaches its forwardmost position, the vertex87 serves to locate the element 51 in a generally vertical position, theelement 51 being brought upright against the edge of seat 63 therebypositioning the bowling pin in standing position on the alley 23.

As also seen in FIGURES 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7, there is provided about eachof the camming slots 85 a recess or depressed portion 91 which has amaximum depth adjacent the vertex S7 and which gradually lessens indepth toward the forward end of the camming slots 85. The provision ofthe recesses 91 prevents interfering engagement of the converging sides86 or of the vertex 87 with the seats 63 in the stpportin plate 59.

The shiftable member 75 is moved forwardly and rearwardly, and theextent of such movement is determined by a manually movable linkage 93(FIGURES 2 and 11) which forms a part of the mechanism 31 and includesthe before-mentioned actuating arm 77 and an operating lever 95 which ispivotally connected at its rearward end to a 6 bracket 97 mounted on thehousing 21. At its forward end, the operating lever extends exteriorlyof the housing 21 through a slot 98 (FIGURE 1) and has at its outer end,an operating knob or button 99.

More specifically, one end of the actuating arm 77 is pivotally mountedon the underside of the supporting plate 59 by suitable means such asthe pin 101 (FIGURE 2). Adjacent to its other end, the actuating arm 77passes through a slot 103 in a downwardly extending flange 105projecting from the supporting plate 59. The length of the slot 103serves to establish the are through which the actuating arm 77 ispivotable and, consequently, to determine the rearwardmost andforwardmost positions of the shiftable member 75.

At its free end, the actuating arm 77 includes a portion 107 of circularcross section which is journalled in the adjacent end of a link 109which passes through a slot 111 in the supporting plate 59. At its otherend, the link 109 is pivotally connected to one end of a lever 113 andto one end of a connecting rod 115. More specifically, the lever 113 ispivotally supported, at its other end, on a bracket 117 secured to thesupporting plate 59, while the connecting rod is pivotally joined, atits other end, to the operating lever 95 at a point intermediate itsends.

Consequently, when the operating knob 99 is depressed, the operatinglever 95 is pivoted in the clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 2,causing the connecting rod 115 to move downwardly, and thereby alsocausing the link 109 to move forwardly and rotate in thecounterclockwise direction, as also seen in FIGURE 2. This movement ofthe link 109 shifts the actuator arm 77 forward in the counterclockwisedirection, as seen in FIG- URE 2, and moves the shifta-ble member 75 toits forwardmost position so as to reset the pins 25. As will be seenhereinafter, the linkage 93 is spring biased to retain the operatingknob 99 in its normal, elevated position, and to return the shiftablemember 75 to its normal, rearwardmost position, when the knob 99 isreleased.

Manual operation of the operating knob 99 is regulated by a coincontrolled device or mechanism 119 (FIGURES 2, 11 and 12) forming a partof the mechanism 31. In the disclosed construction, the coin controlleddevice 119 functions to permit twelve pin resetting operations for eachdeposit of a coin, thereby providing for ten frames of play, plus thetwo additional frames needed in the event that a strike is made in thetenth frame of play.

More specifically, the coin controlled device 119 includes a ratchetwheel 121 which is indexed each time the operating knob 99 is depressedso as to store energy in an associated spring 123. The coin controlleddevice 119 also includes lever means (FIGURE 2) which normally engagesthe ratchet wheel 121 to prevent the release of energy from the spring123 and accompanying resetting of the ratchet wheel 121 for anothertwelve frames of play. In addition, the lever means 125 functions,incident to the insertion of a coin, to release the ratchet Wheel 121for rotation under the influence of the spring 123 so as to therebypermit the pins 25 to be reset twelve times.

More specifically, the ratchet wheel 121 is mounted on a shaft 126 forrotation in bearings in a pair of spaced brackets 127 projectingupwardly from the supporting plate 59. Formed on the ratchet Wheel 121and on one of the brackets 127 are cooperating means for preventing therotational travel of the ratchet wheel 121, in either direction, pastgiven points. In the disclosed construction, this means takes the formof a dog 129 on the ratchet wheel 121 and projections or stop lugs 131,132 extending from one of the brackets 127 into the path of travel ofthe dog 129.

The energy storing spring 123 is a coil spring which surrounds the shaft126 carrying the ratchet wheel 121 and has one end hooker around one ofthe edges of one of the brackets 127 and has its other end anchored tothe ratchetwheel 121 so as to bias the ratchet wheel .121 for rotationin the clockwise direction, as seen in FIG- URE 2 (the counter-clockwisedirection as seen in FIG- URE 12), toward the given point determined byengagernent of the dog 129 with the lug 132. c v

The ratchet wheel121includes thirteen teeth and is indexed against theaction of the spring 123 so as to store energy in the spring 123,incident to each depression of the operating knob 99, by an actuatorlink 135 (FIG- URES 3, 11 and 12). The link 135 is located on theunderside of the supporting plate 59 andis connected, at its forwardend, to the circular portion 107 of the'actuatin'g arm 77. At itsrearward end, the actuator link 135i cludes a tang 137 which is adaptedto successively engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 1 21 toindex theratchet wheel 121 as an incident to each forward pivotal movement of theactuator arm 77. The actuator link 135 is retained in position to engagethe tang 137 with the ratchet wheel 121, and to effect biasing of thelinkage 93 so as to locate the operatingknob 99 in its elevated positionand so as to locate the shiftable member 75 in its r'earwar dmo stposition, by a spring 139 connected between the rearward end of theactuator link 135 and a rearwardly located eye 141 of the supportingplate 59. I

Release of the energy thus stored in the spring 123 is prevented by amember 143 which constitutes a part of the lever means 125 and which ismounted on the supporting plate 59 for pivotal movement relative to aposition-of engagement with the ratchet wheel 121. More specifically,the rnember 143 is guided for movement about a pin 145 by which themeans 125 is attachedto a'bracket147 on the supporting plate 59 Whenengaged with the ratchet wheel 121, member 143 prevents'clockwiserotation of the ratchet wheel 121 (as viewed in FIGUREZ) undertheinfluence of the spring 123. The member 143is normally engaged withthe ratchet wheel 121 by a spring 149 which extends rearwardly from aconnection with the means 125 to a rearwardly located hook 151) "onthesupporting plate 59. v

The in'ember143 is shifted forwardly, againstthe action of thespring149, to free the ratchet wheel 121;f0r clockwiserotation (as viewed'inFIGURE 2) under the action of the spring 123,'by the insertion Ora coininto a"slt 151 (FIGURE 1) formed in the housing 2l. In this regard, acoin sensing lever arm 153,"which is part of lever means 125, extends atits end remote fronrmember 143into the path of travel of a coin insertedthrough the slot 151. Thus, when a coin is inserted in the slot 151, thecoin sensing lever 153 is pivotedclockwise, as seen in FIGURES 2'and3,there by disengaging the member 14310 freethe ratchetwheel 121. Asalready Linentidriedfsilch disengagement permits rotation of the ratchetwheel '121 under'the infiuenceof the spring 123 it'otheli'miting'po'sition established by engagement of thepin 12? with the lug131. Located beneath the slot 151m the holising'llis 'a drawer159(FIGURE 3) which forms a receptacle for receiving the inserted coinsahdwhich can be with'draw'n in order to gainjacccss to thecoins.

As indicating wheel 161 is also attached to shaft 126 so as to move withratchetwheel 121. Numbers on indicating wheel 161 are visible throughaperture "163 in housing '21 so astoindi'cate to'the player theparticular fr'a'rhe being played. c

The 'apparatus also includes a lighting arrangement 'operated therotation of the ratchet wheel 121 so as to illumijnate the pin area whenthefgame is begun a'nd'to turn off thelighting when the game is' over.As shown in FIGUREJl Ii, the lightingsystern includes a lamp 165 mounteduhder the f ontier bf the covered housing part 34. The lamp is energizedby a battery 169 also disposed under the covered housing part 34. A lead171 connects the battery to the lamp. The circuit is completed over alead 173 connected between the lamp and the supporting plate'59, and alead 175 connected between the battery 15h and a switch 177 which isinterposed between lead and the supporting plate 5%. The switch 177includes a spring contact 179 which is mounted on an insulating plate181which in turn is fastened to the supporting plate 519. The springcontact 179 is normally held out of contact with the supporting plate 59by means of its shape and resiliency. It is movable into contact withthe plate 59 by action of a blade 1&3 which has a ground out beveledpart 185. The blade 183 is pivotally mounted to the plate 59 by a pin137 and is moved back and forth by pins 191 on the ratchet wheel 121.These pins engage the free end of blade 183 when the ratchet wheel 121is rotated. Pins 189 and 191 are so disposed that the pin 1S9 movesblade 183 rearward when the ratchet wheel 121 is moved into position tostart the game and the pin 191 moves the blade 1183 forward when theratchet wheel 121 has moved through its complete cycle and the game isover. As can be seen in FIGURE 12, when the beveled surface 185 of theblade 133 is moved rearward, the beveled surface forces the springcontact 179 downward into contact with the supporting plate 59 thusclosing the switch 177 anden'ergizing the lamp 165. ii hen the beveledpart 185 'is moved forward, the spring contact iii/is released andsprings away from the supporting blade59, thereby breaking the circuitto the lamp 165 and turningthe 'lamp'off.

In operation, when a coin is inserted in the slot 151, the coin sensinglever 153i's pivoted clockwise, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, therebydisplacing the member 143 forwardly so as to disengage it from theratchet wheel 121. Consequently, the ratchet Wheel 1121 rotates in theclockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 3 under the influence of theenergy previously stored in the spring 123, until the pin 129 engagesthe lug 132. At the same time, pin 189 moves blade 183 to close switch1'77, thereby turningon lamp 165 and illuminating the playing area.

The operating knob 99 can now be depressed twelve times, each depressionserving to move the ratchet wheel 121 by an increment of one notchand'to store energy in the spring 123, and to effect resetting of thebowling pins 25 by displacing the shiftable member 75 forwardly. Asalready'explained, the pin setting linkage 93 is biased bytlie spring13to locate the shiftable member 75, when released, in its rearwardmostposition, to locate the operating knob 9% in its elevated position, andto reposition the indexing tang 137 in engagement with the next toothonthe ratchet wheel 121. At the end of the game, dog 129 strikes stop lug131, preventing further moveme'nhandpi'n 11 opens switch 177 "to turnoff lamp 155.

When the bowling pins 25 are in their upstanding positions onthe alley23, the projecting mechanism 27 can be used to propel the ball towardthe pins. Striking of one or more of the pins 25 by the ball 29, orstriking of one or more of the pins by other pins, causes the struckpins to swing to pivotally elevated, retracted positions in simulationof a real bowling game.

The disclosed game thus very realistically simulates the action of realbowling and requires the insertion of a coin to actuate the interiormechanism so as to provide for twelve pin resetting operations.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy bowling game comprising a plurality of simulated bowling pins,a rigid supporting element-projecting upwardly'from each pin, arelatively fixed support disposed above said bowling pins comprising ametal plate having portions struck therefrom to provide a plurality ofgenerally hemispherical depressions including rearwardly facingopenings, a ball secured to each of said rigid supporting elementsadjacent the upper end thereof and seated in one of said hemisphericaldepressions to thereby provide a ball and socket joint permittingpivotal upward swinging o fsaid pin through a vertical arc, a projectionfixed toand extending upwardly from each of said balls and pivotablewith the respective one of said pins, flat spring means on said supportand biased downwardly in positions to slidably engage said projections,said flat spring means including a plurality of spring elements eachhaving a downwardly facing detent disposed to bear against one of saidprojections on said balls in a direction substantially axially of saidrigid pin supporting element when the respective pin is in itsupstanding position, whereby substantially no torque is applied by saidspring means to said bowling pin when said bowling pin is in itsupstanding position, said projection being of sutficient length and saiddownwardly facing detent being constructed so that said projectionpasses out of engagement with said detent and substantial torque isapplied to said projection by said spring element so as to rotate andelevate said bowling pin when said bowling pin is moved away from itsupstanding position, irrespective of the direction in which said bowlingpin is moved from its upstanding position.

2. A toy bowling game comprising a plurality of simulated bowling pins,a rigid supporting element projecting upwardly from each pin, arelatively fixed support disposed above said bowling pins comprising ametal plate having portions struck therefrom to provide a plurality ofgenerally hemispherical depressions including rearwardly facingopenings, a ball secured to each of said rigid sup porting elementsadjacent the upper end thereof and seated in one of said hemisphericaldepressions to thereby provide a ball and socket joint permittingpivotal upward swinging of said pin through a vertical are, a projectionfixed to and extending upwardly from each of said balls and pivotablewith the respective one of said pins, fiat spring means on said supportand biased downwardly in positions to slidably engage said projections,said flat spring means including a plurality of spring elements eachhaving a downwardly facing detent disposed to bear against one of saidprojections on said balls in a direction substantially axially of saidrigid pin supporting element when the respective pin is in itsupstanding position, whereby substantially no torque is applied by saidspring means to said bowling pin when said bowling pin is in itsupstanding position, said projection being of sulficient length and saiddownwardly facing detent being constructed so that said projectionpasses out of engagement with said detent and substantial torque isapplied to said projection by said spring element so as to rotate andele vate said bowling pin when said bowling pin is moved away from itsupstanding position, irrespective of the direction in which said bowlingpin is moved from its upstanding position, and resetting means slidablyconnected below said support for substantially horizontal movementrelative thereto, said resetting means including a plate memberincluding a plurality of substantially V-shaped slots through each ofwhich one of said rigid supporting elements is disposed, said resettingmeans being movable in one direction relative to said rigid supportingelements to engage said supporting elements in the respective verticesof said slots and thereafter movable in the same direction to disposethe respective vertices in such relation to respective ones of saidjoints as to dispose said pins in a standing position on said alley,said resetting means being further movable in a direction opposite tosaid one direction to disengage said resetting means from saidsupporting elements so that said rigid supporting elements are free tomove in the wider open portion of said V- shaped slots and therebypermit lateral as well as rearward movement of said pins.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,608,447 11/ 26Wade 273-38 2,181,984 12/39 Warner.

2,207,643 7/40 Strong 273-44 2,231,255 2/ 41 Collins 273-44 2,367,400 1/45 lanes 273-44 2,542,625 2/51 Carroll 273-41 2,663,568 12/53 Durant273-129 2,715,531 8/55 Henry 273-129 2,722,422 11/55 Breitenstein 273-41X 2,776,137 1/ 57 Cohn 273-41 3,063,715 11/62 Hooker et al. 273-41DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

1. A TOY BOWLING GAME COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SIMULATED BOWLING PINS,A RIGID SUPPORTING ELEMENT PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM EACH PIN, ARELATIVELY FIXED SUPPORT DISPOSED ABOVE SAID BOWLING PINS COMPRISING AMETAL PLATE HAVING PORTIONS STRUCK THEREFROM TO PROVIDE A PLURALITY OFGENERALLY HEMISPHERICAL DEPRESSIONS INCLUDING REARWARDLY FACINGOPENINGS, A BALL SECURED TO EACH OF SAID RIGID SUPPORTING ELEMENTSADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF AND SEATED IN ONE OF SAID HEMISPHERICALDEPRESSIONS TO THEREBY PROVIDE A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT PERMITTINGPIVOTAL UPWARD SWINGING OF SAID PIN THROUGH A VERTICAL ARC, A PROJECTIONFIXED TO AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM EACH OF SAID BALLS AND PIVOTABLEWITH THE RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID PINS, FLAT SPRING MEANS ON SAID SUPPORTAND BIASED DOWNWARDLY IN POSITIONS TO SLIDABLY ENGAGE SAID PROJECTIONS,SAID FLAT SPRING MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPRING ELEMENTS EACHHAVING A DOWNWARDLY FACING DETENT DISPOSED TO BEAR AGAINST ONE OF SAIDPROJECTIONS ON SAID BALLS IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY AXIALLY OF SAIDRIGID PIN SUPPORTING ELEMENT WHEN THE RESPECTIVE PIN IS IN ITSUPSTANDING POSITION, WHEREBY SUBSTANTIALLY NO TORQUE IS APPLIED BY SAIDSPRING MEANS TO SAID BOWLING PIN WHEN SAID BOWLING PIN IS IN ITSUPSTANDING POSITION, SAID PROJECTION BEING OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH AND SAIDDOWNWARDLY FACING DETENT BEING CONSTRUCTED SO THAT SAID PROJECTIONPASSES OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DETENT AND SUBSTANTIAL TORQUE ISAPPLIED TO SAID PROJECTION BY SAID SPRING ELEMENT SO AS TO ROTATE ANDELEVATE SAID BOWLING PIN WHEN SAID BOWLING PIN IS MOVED AWAY FROM ITSUPSTANDING POSITION, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DIRECTION IN WHICH SAID BOWLINGPIN IS MOVED FROM ITS UPSTANDING POSITION.